New Books Network Ambra Suriano, "Narrative Paths Through Mamre and Sodom" (T&T Clark, 2025)
Sep 6, 2025
Join Ambra Suriano, a biblical narratologist from Lancaster University, as she dives deep into the narratives of Mamre and Sodom. She uncovers how these ancient stories grapple with themes of justice and moral responsibility. Suriano highlights the contrasting hospitality of Abraham versus the failures of Sodom, revealing deeper meanings behind their actions. The discussion also touches on the symbolism in Genesis and offers narratological insights into gender representation, emphasizing the concept of knowledge in shaping moral dilemmas.
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From Solo Story To Unified Narrative
- Ambra Suriano describes how her interest shifted from Sodom alone to reading Genesis 18–19 as a single, continuous narrative.
- She realized the two episodes connect through the same angels traveling from Mamre to Sodom and form a mirrored positive/negative pair.
Mamre and Sodom As Narrative Mirrors
- Suriano highlights a mirror structure: Mamre (positive) versus Sodom (negative) that frames the paired episodes.
- Mamre hosts God and daylight justice while Sodom is a valley of darkness where justice is overturned.
Apply Eclectic Narratology Synchronicly
- Use an eclectic narratological method combining semiotics, philology, and hermeneutics to read biblical narratives synchronically.
- Treat scenes and smaller narrative units by unity of action, vocabulary, and introductory/concluding formulas to define boundaries.
